Cops: Man Believed To Be Texting On Tracks Fatally Struck By Train

ABINGTON, Pa. (CBS) — One of SEPTA’s Regional Rail lines was down during the Monday commute after a person was struck and killed by a train. Investigators believe the man may have been texting on the train tracks before being struck.

The West Trenton line was shut down around 5 p.m. near the Noble Station in Abington after authorities say a 20-year-old man from Jenkintown was struck and killed by an outbound SEPTA West Trenton train.

The accident happened about .5 miles east of the Old York Road Bridge over the tracks in the Jenkintown section of Abington.

The man was apparently walking west on the tracks and had his back to trains traveling west. Police say he may have been texting a friend he was supposed to meet at Wawa when he was struck and killed.

The engineer aboard the train said he came around the bend and saw the man on the tracks. He blew the horn multiple times and locked up the brakes, but was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the victim.

The engineer also said the man never acknowledged the train was coming or turned around.

Police are not identifying the victim until his family is notified.

Service was down on the West Trenton line for approximately two hours while police investigated. Service resumed around 6:30 p.m.